Dynamics Unique to People with Disabilities

Due to a general pattern of devaluing people with disabilities, people with disabilities tend to be viewed as less valuable than those without disabilities – less smart, less capable, less able, and even less deserving. Additionally, people with disabilities are often members of other marginalized groups, which compounds the devaluation they experience. When people are devalued, they are at greater risk of victimization because society has already deemed their experiences as insignificant and may not punish crimes against them. As such, they may be targeted for victimization at higher rates.

People with disabilities, and especially cognitive, mental health, and communication disabilities, are often perceived as unreliable, less credible, and more prone to false reports. As such, people with disabilities who report abuse often are not believed. People who want to harm a person with a disability will know this narrative exists and may tell their victims that no one will believe them if they do tell. 

People with disabilities are often segregated and isolated. While there have been policy and practice shifts away from putting people with disabilities in institutions and toward community-based settings, many people with disabilities still live in institutions or nursing homes, which can be just as isolating. Even people with disabilities living in the community experience isolation, due to barriers to access and persistent prejudices against people with disabilities. People with disabilities in rural communities experience even more isolation. Isolated settings allow victimization to occur without many witnesses or outlets for reporting.

Many people with disabilities are taught and expected to follow the directions of those with authority and comply with other people's wants, needs, or demands. They are consistently told that compliance will result in rewards, lack of punishment, and acceptance. Under these circumstances, people with disabilities are denied the right to say no or to object to behaviors they do not like. People who live under this forced compliance are automatically more at risk for victimization.

The motivation for some forms of violence is based on a desire to exert power and control over another person. Someone who is devalued, taught to be compliant, and seen as less credible by others is easier to have power over and easier to control. It is for this very reason that people with disabilities are viewed as easier to victimize.

Society at large is skeptical of the ability of people with disabilities to make choices that affect their lives, evidenced by policies that allow for guardianship or mandatory reporting. Additionally, barriers and limitations in systems that support people with disabilities result in them not having a choice about with whom they may live, who may provide them with personal care, and with whom they socialize. This lack of choice means that they do not have a lot of control over who is in their life, including those who may do them harm.

The very people entrusted with providing assistance for people with disabilities are often the ones who do them harm, including caregivers, family members, transportation providers, intimate partners, personal care attendants, and other disability support providers. Because they need these services to live independently, it means that they are exposed to a higher number of people who may victimize them.

People with disabilities frequently lack access to appropriate education about healthy relationships, consent, and sexuality in schools and other settings. Factors for why they are denied this information range from caregivers or service providers who are not equipped to discuss these concepts, who are trying to prevent their sexual expression or who do not believe the information is relevant in the lives of people with disabilities. (Citation: American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) (2008) Sexuality.(opens in a new tab) End citation) Additionally, there is a general belief that people with disabilities do not have the capacity to consent to sex or participate in a romantic relationship. People who target individuals with disabilities position themselves as the person who will teach them what is right and wrong. (Citation: Richards D, Miodrag, N, and Watson, S. (2006) Sexuality and developmental disability: Obstacles to healthy sexuality throughout the lifespan.(opens in a new tab) Developmental Disabilities Bulletin, 2006, No. 1 & 2, pp. 137‐155 End citation)